When do you turn down financial donations to your organization? With all the pressure to secure the financial resources needed to make budget and achieve organizational goals, is it ever appropriate to say ‘thanks but no thanks’ to somebody who is willing to provide financial support?

Ronald Reagan proclaimed November 15th National Philanthropy Day in 1986. He urged individuals and organizations to “observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities to recognize the enormous achievements of all who have given of themselves for others, and to rededicate ourselves to the great tasks ahead.”

Values play a significant role in fundraising for most nonprofit organizations. Fundraising or more appropriately, development, is not just about raising money; it's also about aligning the organization's mission, principles, and values with the values and priorities of donors and supporters.

As we enter the last quarter of the fiscal year (for many NPOs) and the biggest fundraising season of the year for all, pumping up the board for raising funds is top of mind. We know from experience, and we see it now among our clients, that coaxing the board into garnering individual donations is difficult.

The strategic planning process is all about defining the future, setting goals, and creating actionable steps.

Suicidal thoughts can plague anyone regardless of age, gender, or social status. Commonly linked to depression, there is no foolproof indicator of suicidal tendencies. Many people suffering from depression or suicidal thoughts cover them up quite well.

As we race through the third quarter of the year, it’s time to start thinking about next year’s priorities (I can hear your laughter as I type this). In a perfect world, you would be referencing your organization’s current strategic plan and tracking progress, with thoughts of building on this in the year to come.

The relationship between the Executive Director and the Board Chair is critical to the success of a nonprofit organization. A strong, working relationship between these two positions goes a long way to ensuring that the relationship between the Board as a whole, and the rest of the organization, is also strong.